Associate Director, International Student & Scholar Services

Position Summary: The Associate Director (AD) position provides staff liaison support to the International Student and Scholar Services Knowledge Community (KC ISSS), and the International Student and Scholar Regulatory Practice Committee (ISS-RP). The Knowledge Community is responsible for addressing the training, product and service needs of international student and scholar advisers, Principal Designated School Officials (PDSOs), Designated School Officials (DSOs), Responsible Officers (ROs), Alternate Responsible Officers (AROs), Directors of ISS Offices, and those who work in community programming. The Regulatory Practice Committee gathers input from members and others regarding regulatory issues, analyzes and prioritizes the issues, and recommends NAFSA liaison with U.S. government agencies consistent with the outcomes assigned to the Committee. Those engaged in international student and scholar services work represent the largest segment of the membership, and the Associate Director is the community’s staff partner in these activities.

Major Functions and Responsibilities

Provide guidance and support for KC ISSS and ISS-RP committees in the NAFSA planning process and best practices in managing work assigned to the team in the Strategic Plan.

Work with the Senior Director and Deputy Executive Director (DED), providing information, direction and training each year for the preparation of planning documents. Work with the Chairs to produce final versions for presentation to the respective VP.

Assist the KC ISSS and the ISS-RP chairs in preparing reports throughout the year.

Keep up-to-date on the progress in achieving outcome activities in the approved work plans throughout the year, and bring problem areas to the attention of the Senior Director and DED.

Work closely with the KC ISSS and ISS-RP chair streams to coordinate content, activities, and events inside the KC ISSS networking center.

Keep abreast of current trends and issues for members in the ISS field.

Work as the staff partner with the ISS related leadership teams.

Assist the chair or chair stream in planning agendas and team meetings.

Attend team/committee meetings such as the Washington Leadership Meeting, the annual conference, and others as necessary.

Maintain the Network.NAFSA closed community spaces for the leadership groups and provide training on how to use the platform.

Manage conference calls, following the guidelines of the association and department.

Ensure volunteer position descriptions are up-to-date, open positions are widely promoted, and national team positions are filled in a timely manner.

Assist the chair in orienting and on-boarding new committee members.

Help facilitate pan-NAFSA partnerships with other Knowledge Communities or member interest areas to generate resources and programming for the membership.

Provide staff guidance and support to chairs of subcommittees and task forces and product managers for ISSS product development.

When the formation of new subcommittees or task forces is under consideration by the team or committee, assist the team/committee chair in developing the rationale for work needed by the proposed new group, and ensure that the charge is in alignment with the approved team work plan and includes specific information related to reporting responsibilities and measurable outcomes.

Coordinate NAFSA office resources needed for each group. If the Director of Regulatory Liaison or Director of Immigration Practice Resources needs support, discuss the proposed charge with the Senior Director in advance. Interface with other departments as necessary to ensure smooth operations.

Assist/guide the chair of subcommittees and task forces in setting up a work calendar, managing meetings (in person or conference calls), and managing the volunteer effort involved to achieve timely performance and quality outcomes.

Assist subcommittees and task forces with maintaining digital archive of their work.

At the request of Professional Learning Services, assist in the process of producing eLearning Seminars including locating presenters, developing content, and providing marketing collateral.

Manage the content of website(s) related to the ISSS knowledge community, working with its leadership and operating within the Web policies and procedures.

Maintain a full understanding of NAFSA guidelines related to Web, surveys, etc., and ensure that knowledge community team and subcommittee/task force members are aware of them, as necessary.

Edit/write web content as necessary to conform to guidelines and collaborate with web support to ensure navigation is logical and serves members.

Provide support for the development and delivery of Collegial Conversations. Train presenters on web-based software and supply marketing materials to web support for promotion.

Develop a working knowledge of NAFSA databases and systems related to the ISSS community.

Collaborate with web support regarding the knowledge community networks and facilitate communication between network leaders and web support.

Work with the IEM-ISS department Senior Coordinator regarding IssueNet’s Report an Issue and Get Liaison Help.

Be familiar with and promote the NAFSA Adviser’s Manual.

Maintain a working knowledge of the iMIS system.

Manage special programs and events related to ISSS.

At the request of the Director of Regulatory Liaison, provide logistical assistance for liaison activities, stakeholder engagements, and Regulatory/Government sessions at the Annual and Regional Conferences.

Work with the Senior Director and the Director of Regulatory Liaison to plan and implement virtual training for Regulatory Ombuds each year.

Coordinate and/or undertake special projects on key topics at the request of the Senior Director.

Assume other responsibilities as assigned by the Senior Director.

Skills and Background Required

Bachelor’s degree

At least five (5) years’ work experience in planning and management of project teams of five or more members

Project management involving volunteer groups

Experience in international education, preferably in a campus environment

A track record of outstanding customer service

Excellent organizational skills

Strong communication skills, both oral and written (including web-based applications)

Desired Qualifications

Master’s degree

Advanced proficiency with Microsoft Office suite products

Experience with various web or cloud-based conferencing platforms

Prior membership in NAFSA.

Scope of Supervision

This position does not supervise other staff directly, though an intern may be used from time to time. It does require sophisticated volunteer and project management skills, which require knowledge of motivation, goal setting, planning, performance monitoring, and other supervision skills.

Work Relationships

The Associate Director must maintain a productive and effective working relationship with a large variety of member-leaders. S/he must respect volunteer time, while at the same time ensuring the job gets done. Doing so requires excellent interpersonal skills.

Coordination with other departments in the NAFSA office, particularly those in the Leadership and Professional Development Services area, is required. The Associate Director is responsible for keeping heads of the departments updated on Knowledge Community developments that would affect their portfolios of work.

As representatives of a membership organization with a broad and diverse range of activities related to education and training, NAFSA staff possess more than simply specialized capabilities. Each individual is expected to take the initiative to become knowledgeable about the organization as a whole. Association members and other staff expect colleagues to be accessible and responsive, to convey a positive attitude, and to exhibit a high degree of professionalism.

About NAFSA: Association of International Educators

NAFSA: Association of International Educators is an organization of people dedicated to building a global community and fostering a more peaceful world through advancing international higher education. With approximately 10,000 members, NAFSA is the world’s largest professional development and advocacy organization committed to international learning and creating a more globally engaged, welcoming, and educated United States.

NAFSA believes that international education advances learning and scholarship, fosters understanding and respect among people of diverse backgrounds and perspectives, is essential for developing globally competent individuals, and builds leadership for the global community. We believe that international education lies at the core of an interconnected world characterized by peace, security, and well-being for all.

NAFSA is a workplace that not only appreciates diversity but believes it is our strength, and we strive to create an inclusive culture for all our team members. NAFSA is proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer. To apply, submit your application (resume and letter of interest) to: hiringmanager@nafsa.org. Learn more about NAFSA at www.nafsa.org.

Office Environment

The workday is generally 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Between Memorial Day and Labor Day, it is 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Monday through Thursday and 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. on Friday.

Travel and weekend work is required occasionally, especially during the annual conference, regional meetings, and late January leadership meetings. Participation in the NAFSA annual conference the week of Memorial Day, including the holiday itself, is a job requirement. The annual conference is held in varying cities in the U.S.